Berlant frames the special as a necessary critique of digital addiction and a return to authentic human connection through live performance.
Insiders say the wine-throwing incident proves that even 'alt' comedians are hitting raw nerves about modern parenting and existential dread.
HBO Special 'Parmesan' premieres Oct. 16. A man threw a glass of wine in the lobby after being flipped off by his partner during the 'father is a family friend' bit.
If a joke about fatherhood makes a grown man hurl a wine glass, Kate Berlant is doing something right.
Kate Berlant is serving up more than just cheese on her new HBO special, 'Parmesan.' While the title might suggest a lighthearted riff on food trends, the comedian’s latest hour is a sharp, slapstick critique of our phone-obsessed society. Berlant opens the special by declaring, "My addiction? My phone," setting the stage for a performance that yearns for a pre-digital era.
She argues that the loneliness of the endless scroll is palpable, predicting that this isolation will eventually drive people back to physical community. It’s a bold thesis for a stand-up special, but Berlant insists it’s the only honest way to address the "existentially terrifying moment" we are currently swimming in. The drama, however, didn’t stay on the screen.
In a recent interview with Variety, Berlant revealed a shocking incident from her live shows that proves her material is hitting harder than she expected. During a bit where she jokes that "a father is a family friend," a man in the center audience stood up and left with his partner. Berlant noticed them leaving but didn’t think twice until she heard the aftermath.
The man flipped her off on his way out, and later, in the lobby, he threw a glass of wine. Berlant was stunned by the reaction, noting, "I touched a nerve, and I was amazed by that." She suspects the man’s anger stemmed from shame or guilt regarding his own parenting, a raw emotion that her comedic lens managed to expose. Beyond the wine-flinging patrons, Berlant is navigating the tricky waters of personal branding.
She’s long been labeled a "weird" or "alt" comedian, but she rejects the idea that she’s too niche for broad appeal. "I cross my goddamn eyes," she says, emphasizing her identity as a physical comedian. This special marks her first true dive into autobiographical material, a departure from her previous off-Broadway show, 'Kate,' which featured a fictionalized, abusive Irish mother.
Now, she’s embracing the label of "character actress," declaring it should be an Oscar category. This shift allows her to tackle her own "succumbing to a homosexual lifestyle" and the complexities of performing in an age of AI paranoia, which she says made her delete her social media accounts again just days ago. Looking ahead, the tea is brewing with her longtime creative partner, John Early.
After their film 'Maddie’s Secret' and several failed pilots that were derailed by the pandemic, the duo is finally ready to develop a television show. Berlant teases that they have an "amazing idea" and are currently writing in the workshop. With 'Parmesan' premiering on HBO and HBO Max on October 16 at 10 p.m. PT, Berlant is proving that while she may not be Mariah Carey, she’s certainly not afraid to make an audience—and a few drunk men—feel every bit of the discomfort.
